Bowling alley sweep



y 28, 1 57 s. FICARA 2,793,858

BOWLING ALLEY SWEEP Filed Jan. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l .Jwenfar \Scz/mze/ Hcczra y 28, 1957 s. FICARA BOWLING ALLEY SWEEP 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1954 Eve/afar Gama e/ Eta/a NE E ' y 1957 s. FICARA BOWLING ALLEY SWEEP 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 15, 1954 May 28, 1957 S. FICARA BOWLING ALLEY SWEEP Filed Jan. 13, 1954 & m

United States Patent BOWLING ALLEY SWEEP Samuel Ficara, Peabody, Mass.

Application January 13, 1954, Serial No. 403,699 7 Claims. (Cl. 273--54) The present invention relates to bowling alley equipment, more particularly to a mechanism for the removal of dead wood from the floor-like surface and gutters of a bowling alley, and is a continuation-in-part of application, Serial No. 224,354, entitled Device for Handling Bowling Pin, filed by me under date of May 3, 1951 and eventuating in Letters Patent Number 2,732,208, granted January 24, 1956.

This invention may be employed with the game of bowling generally, but is especially adapted for use in connection with the game of candlepins, the mechanism operating in compliance with the rules and regulations that have been established therefor. This device is designed to facilitate and reduce to a minimum the time consumed in removing dead wood from the floor-like surface and gutters of the bowling alley, the removal of the dead wood being accomplished without the aid of human intervention.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a mechanism which will discriminate between live wood, i. e., pins which have been upset but remain in the definitive field of play, and dead wood, i. e., pins which have been upset and displaced beyond the defiinitive field of play, and will properly function to remove only the dead wood, leaving the live wood and the standing Wood, i. e., those pins remaining in an upright position in the definitive field of play, undisturbed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism as and for the purpose above mentioned which embodies a combination of elements which insures the segregation and removal to the pit of all dead wood which lies on the floor-like surface of the alley outside the definitive field of play, fallen pins lying wholly within the gutters of the alley, dead wood lying partially on the floor-like surface and partially within the gutters and pins leaning across the gutters against the side walls or kickbacks of the alley, the standing wood and the live wood remaining undisturbed- Other objetcs of the present invention are to provide a mechanism of the character described which is wholly mechanical in operation, the mechanism being actuated from a remote point; to provide a mechanism of the character described comprising a combination of elements including several continuously operated members, one for delivering to the gutters dead wood which partially lies on the floor-like surface of the alley and the other to convey fallen pins to the pit from portions of the gutters adjacent the pit; to provide a mechanism as described comprising a combination of elements, two of which are selectively operable, one for sweeping into the gutters dead wood which lies on the floor-like surface outside the definitive field of play and the other for sweeping dead wood" from the gutters into the pit.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bowling alley equipped with the present device for handling bowling pins;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a bowling alley having associated therewith an alley sweep forming a salient part of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same, showing in dotted lines the sweeper members in operative position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an alley showing the gutter sweeps forming a part of the present invention;

Fig. 5a is a top plan view of an alley showing the pin conveyor and deflector assemblies forming a part of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the alley showing a gutter with its operating and sweep mechanism inside elevation;

Fig. 6a is a detail fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6a6a of Fig. 5a, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 5a, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing to advantage actuators for the vertically movable gutter sections, and

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing to advantage portions of the gutter sweep assembly.

The drawings illustrate the apparatus associated with a pair of conventional bowling alleys, generally designated 12 and 12', each of which comprises a floor-like surface 13 having gutters 14 alongthe longitudinal marginal edges thereof. Dividers 15 separate adjacent alleys, each of which dividers issues into a side wall or kickback 16 at the pit end of the alley. A ball return rail 17 is mounted atop alternate dividers and side walls. There is additionally provided, for the game of candlepins, a deadline 18, in advance of the pins, running at right angles to gutters 14, the deadline marking the rectangular definitive field of play which extends from the deadline to the pit. The candlepins are indicated at 18.

The apparatus, through the medium of which the dead wood is removed from the alley and gutters, comprises, in general, an alley sweep 19 mounted on divider 15 between alleys 12 and 12' and adapted for sweeping into gutters 14 fallen pins lying on floor-like surface 13 of either alley 12 or 12'; a pin conveyor assembly 20 mounted in, and longitudinally of, the bottom of a vertically movable section 21 of gutter 14 adjacent the pit, the assembly being continuously operated to deliver dead wood to the pit; pin deflector assemblies 22 located on the divider side of gutters 14 and longitudinally thereof for causing dead wood lying partially on floor-like surface '13 within the confines of gutters 14 to be deflected into said gutters; a gutter sweep or pin pusher 23 operating in vertically movable sections 21 of gutters 14 to deliver pins lying therein to the pit; and a pin engaging rod 24 carried above and in advance of pusher 23 for directing into the gutters pins which have been upset and project beyond the bounding lines of the definitive field of play across gutter sections 21 in contact with the side walls 16. I

Referring now in greater detail to the mechanism, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, alley sweep 19 is normally disposed along divider 15 and embodies a roller assembly 26 and a sweep member 27 which moves transversely of floor-like surface 13 to deliver dead wood to gutters 14.

Roller assembly 26 comprises a frame including a horizontal supporting rod 28, spaced vertical supports 29 attached at their upper end to supporting rod 28 and pro vided with vertical slots at their lower end. Positioned contiguous with vertical supports 29 are vertical members 29 which support horizontal braces 30. Axial pins 31 of roller 32 are journal led in vertical members 29 and extend beyond the terminals thereof into the vertical slots of supports 29 to adjustably position the roller parallel and proximate to floor-like surface 13.

For vertical adjustment of roller 32 there is provided a pair of vertical shafts 34, each of which is secured at one end to upper horizontal brace 30. The free end of v shaft 34 passes through an opening 35 in horizontal rod 28 and is threaded to receive an adjustment. nut 36, secured above said rod. Openings 35 are of larger diameter than shafts 34 in order that either or both ends of roller 32 are free to ride upward upon contacting a pinor pins.

As indicated at 37, horizontal supporting rod 28 is secured to, and movable with, a turntable 38 which is supported by a vertical shaft 39. 'Shaft 39,, isjournalled in a bearing standard '40 secured to divider 15 by suitable means 41, said shaft having a protective sleeve 42. A sheave 43 is fixedly secured to the underside of turntable 38, the sheave and turntable being rotatably driven by an electric motor 44 through the medium of pulley 45 secured to the drive shaft of motor 44 and an endless belt 46 engaged with sheave 43 and pulley 45. Motor 44 may be of any low horsepower, reversible type.

Mounted on turntable 38 is a second low horsepower, reversible motor 47 electrically connected to, and operative with, motor 44 for rotating roller 32 by means of pulleys 48 and 49 and endless belt 50.

Secured to the lower outside extremity of one vertical support 29 is a U-shaped bracket 51, between the terminals of which is pivoted at 52 a sweep member 27. Sweep member 27 comprises a sweep rod 53 which is flanked by and connected to a pair of pin engagers 54 for substantially its entire length. Pin engagers 54 are preferably of wood, the pin engaging surface thereof being of arcuate conformation to prevent pins from becoming wedged between floor-like surface 13 and the sweep member 27.

Actuation of sweep rod 53 about its pivot point isaccomplished by means of a tubular pivot rod 55 secured to rotating member 56-. Member 56 is supported by a vertical rotatable shaft 57 journalled in divider 15 in any suitable manner. A threaded bolt 59 extends through sweep rod53 and pivot rod 55' and is secured by a nut 60 to retain the two rods contiguous.

To prevent accidental displacement of'alley sweep 19 from its normal position on divider 15, there is attached to the upper terminal of vertical support 29 a conventional type solenoid 69*including a plunger 70 which, while alley sweep 19 is inoperative, is engaged in a recess 71 in divider 15 to lock the unit in place. Solenoid 69 is electrically connected with motors 44 and 47 so that when these two motors are actuated, solenoid 69 is energized to withdraw plunger 70 from recess 71 and allow the alley sweep to move transversely of the alley.

As shown to advantage in Fig. 3, the lengths of horizontal supporting rod 28 from the axis of turntable 38 to pivot point 52 and pivot rod 55 from the axis of rotating member 56 to bolt 59 are substantially equal as are the length of sweep member 19 from pivot. pin 52 to nut and bolt 59 and-the distance from the axis of turntable 38 to rotating member 56. Consequently, as alley sweep 19 starts its transverse movement across floorlike surface 13, the sweep members anddivider assume the shape of a parallelogram since the opposite sides. of the figure are of essentially the same length. Upon reaching the limit of its sweeping operation, at=whichtime roller 32 is superimposed on deadline18 and sweep rod'53 has reached the edgeoffloQr-likes surface 13 farthest from divider 15, the structure is of rectangular shape. Thus sweep member 27 remains parallel to divider 15 at all times during the sweeping operation to insure that pins being swept at any point along sweep member 27 are delivered to gutters 14.

Mounted on opposed sides of bearing standard 40 in alignment with deadline 13 are conventional reversing switches 72 including actuators 73, which switches are electrically connected to motor 44 for reversing the direction of rotation of the drive shaft thereof and consequently causing the alley sweep to retract to its divider location. Switches 72 are actuated by an L-shaped trip arm 74 secured to the underside of turntable 38, the arm being so located that it contacts actuator 73 when roller 32 is superimposed on deadline 18. To further insure that roller 32 does not cross deadline 18 and disturb the live wood there is provided a stop 75 mounted on the side wall 16 remote from alley sweep 19 which stop is contacted by abutment 76 or '76 secured to vertical rod 29, the particular abutting member contacted depending on the direction in which alley sweep 19 is swung. As alley sweep 19 returns towards its rest position, it trips either of two motor stop switches 77 mounted on bearing standard support means 41, one of each side of the center of divider 15. Stop switches 77 operate only when tripped in the direction of reversed movement. of the sweep motors 44 and 47 are thereby stopped, solenoid 69 is d e-energized to release plunger 70, the latter. dropping into recess '71 to lock alley sweep 19 against, lateral displacement.

Referring now to the pin conveyor and pin deflector assemblies illustrated in Figs. 5a and 6a, 1 have provided a motor 78 secured to the floor 79 beneath floor-like surface 13 by suitable means 80, to the drive shaft of which is connected a pulley 81. Pulley 81 operates through the medium of pulleys 82, 82' and 83 and endless belts 84 and 8.5 to rotate a drive shaft 36, the pulleys serving to reduce the speed of rotation of drive shat E56. Drive shaft 86 extends transversely beneath a plurality of alleys and has secured thereto, below each gutter, a pulley 87. Each pulley 87. engages a belt 83 comprising pin deflector assembly 22, which belt is preferably of the rubber link type and has finger members 89 extending perpendicular thereto. Belt 83 is trained over another pulley 9h rotatably mounted in any suitable fashion to a floor support 91 below vertically movable section 21 of gutter 14. Belt 88 extends to a pulley 92 rotatably mounted immediately subjacent movable section 21, said pulley being located proximate deadline 18. From pulley 92 belt 83 moves longitudinally within the confines of gutter section 21 in the direction ofthe pit adjacent side wall 16 with fingers 89 extending upward to a point just below the plane of the floor-like surface 13. Immediately adjacent the pit of the alley another pulley 93 is provided for engagement with belt 88 to return the latter to pulley 87 and thereby complete the deflector belt cycle. It will be noted that the'movement of belt 88 and fingers 39 within the gutter serves to deflect into the gutter those pins which lie partially on floor-like surface 13 but which have the major portion thereof dipping downward into the gutter and hence are considered deadwood.

Pinconveyor assembly 20-comprises a pulley 94 secured in any suitable fashion to, and rotatable with, pulley 93, the former being positioned below. the center of the gutter trough and: cooperating with another pulley 95 located at any suitable distance therefrom to move an endless conveyor belt 96 longitudinally of gutter section 21 in the direction of the pit. Conveyor belt 96 may be of any suitable material and serves to deliver to the pit those fallen pins which are knocked from floor-like surface 13 onto it; Belt 96 is ofany desired length but for the game of candlepins should be oflrelatively short length to, prevent accidental removal of live wood.

The gutter sweep or pin pusher 23 forming a part of the present invention, and shown to advantage in Figs.

5 and 6, comprises a body portion 97 movable on casters 98 rotatably mounted thereon, the body having a front bumper shield 99 and a rear bumper shield 100. Gutter sweep 23 is normally supported below the level of the gutter by a raised support 101 secured to floor surface 79 by suitable means 102, the support being hinged at 103 to a pair of tracks 104 for movement of gutter sweep 23 thereon, said tracks in turn being hingedly mounted at 105 to vertically movable gutter section 21. To the front of gutter sweep 23 is secured a cable 106 which extends longitudinally of and in the bottom of movable gutter section 21 to a point proximate the pit of the alley where it engages a pulley 107 rotatably secured by suitable means subjacent the gutter. At this point cable 106 is attached to a belt 108 which is of the rubber link or roller type. Belt 108 extends beneath gutter section 21 to a pulley 109 driven by a reversible motor 110 through the medium of pulleys 111 and 112, endless belt 113 and drive shaft 114. The terminal of belt 108 is attached at 115 to the rear of gutter sweep 23. In order to reverse the direction of gutter sweep 23 when it has reached the pit end of gutter section 21, there is provided a reversing switch 116 adjacent pulley 109 which is electrically connected to reversible motor 110 and actuated by a trip 117 disposed along and movable with belt 108 to effect reversal of movement of gutter sweep 23.

Hinged at 118 to the top of gutter sweep 23 and disposed upwardly at an angle thereto is a pin engaging rod 24 which is secured by an eyelet 120 to a guide line 121. As shown to advantage in Fig. 5, rod 24 is attached at one side of the top of gutter sweep 23, in order to dispose the rod close to the side Wall. Guide line 121 is secured at one end to divider 15 adjacent gutter sweep 23 and at the other end to side wall 16 adjacent the pit of the alley. Mounted on divider 15 at a point adjacent side wall 16 is an inverted U-shaped trough 121 through which guide line 121 passes in order to maintain the latter below the top level of divider 15 after which point guide line 121 rises to a height above the top of any pin lying across the gutter against sidewall 16. Guide line 121 is held taut by a spring 122. As gutter sweep 23 advances along gutter section 21, sweep rod 24 functions to deliver to the gutter any dead wood which projects beyond the bounding lines of the definitive field of play across gutter sections 21 in contact with side wall 16.

Vertical movement of gutter section 21 at the end thereof nearest alley sweep 23 is accomplished by a spring mechanism generally designated 123. Mechanism 123 embodies a pair of turnbuckles 124 secured at 125 to support 101 and at the other end to a coil spring 126, the tension of which is adjusted by turnbuckle 124 in an obvious manner. The free end of each coil spring 126 is secured to an arm 127 which together with a second arm 129 comprise a unit hinged at 128 to a floor support 130. To arm 129 is engaged a U-shaped gutter supporting bracket 131 for normally retaining gutter section 21 in alignment with gutter 14. Adjacent the pit end of the alley there is provided another spring mechanism 123, the parts of which coinciding with the above-described spring mechanism 123 being designated by primed numbers. Turnbuckle 124' of spring mechanism 123 is secured to a support 132 which is mounted on floor 79 by means 133. Adjustment of the turnbuckle is effected by movement of an adjustment nut 134.

When motor 110 is actuated, cable 106 exerts a pulling force on gutter sweep 23 to move the latter up inclined tracks 104 towards gutter section 21. The weight of gutter sweep 23 on tracks 104 exerts a downward force on gutter section 21, the gutter section being lowered under the force of the gutter sweep to a point where the sweep can enter the gutter at the open end thereof. The depression of the gutter section changes the position of arms 127 and 129 to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, stretches spring 126 against the tension thereof. The downward movement of tracks 104 under the weight of sweep 23 effects a slight horizontal movement of-g'utter section 21 in the direction of the pit. To limit this horizontal movement there is provided a stud 135 secured to the underside of movable gutter section 21. In the path of movement of stud 135 is a stop 136 spaced from a'floor support 138 by guide rails 137 secured support 138 at 139. Stop 136 limits the horizontal movement of gutter sections 21 in one direction While floor support 138 limits the horizontal movement in the opposite di-. rection. The gutter section 21 remains in a lowered position as long as gutter sweep 23 remains thereon or on tracks 104 and returns to its normal position under tension of spring 126 when gutter sweep 23 returns to its inoperative position on stand 101.

As gutter sweep 23 moves longitudinally of depressed gutter section 21, the front bumper 99 thereof contacts dead wood pins, lying in the gutter and directs them to the pit. In this connection it should be noted that the height of gutter sweep 23 is such that, when riding in depressed gutter section 21, the uppermost part thereof remains in a plane below that of the floor-like surface 13 of the alley. This prevents the accidental removal of any live wood which might lie principally on floorlike surface 13 but partially overhang gutter section 21. Also, the position of pin engaging rod 24 is such that no live wood lying in the locus of the gutter is disturbed.

In order that actuation of the selective mechanism may be controlled by the players, there are provided proximate the foul line of the alley, two switches, one connected in circuit with motors 44 and 47 and solenoid 69 for operating alley sweep 19 and the other connected to motor 110 for operating gutter sweep 23.

After a ball has been bowled, the position of the dead wood determines which members of the present invention are needed for the removal thereof. A large percentage of the dead wood is knocked into the pit or onto conveyor belt 96, which automatically delivers the pins to the pits. Motor 78 is continuously operated for this purpose. It very often happens that no other dead wood remains on the floor-like surface 13 or in gutters 21 so that the game may be immediately resumed without the use of additional mechanism.

At the same time that pins which have been knocked off the alley onto conveyor belt 96 are being conveyed to the pit, the dead wood which lies partly on floorlike surface 13 but has the greater part thereof overhanging into gutter section 21, is deflected into the gutter by the fingers 89 of belt 88.

Should there be any dead wood on floor-like surface 13 of the alley, the player actuates the alley sweep switch which energizes motors 44 and 47 and solenoid 69. Plunger 70 is raised out of recess 71 and turntable 38 begins its rotation in the direction of the alley to be swept causing alley sweep 19 to begin its transverse movement across floor-like surface 13. Roller 32 is rotated in such a direction that fingers 33 grip the fallen pins and direct them underneath the roller towards gutter 14 nearest turntable 38. Meanwhile, sweep member 27 traverses the alley parallel to the gutters and deposits in the gutters any pins lying in its path.

Upon return of alley sweep 19 to its retracted or rest position, the player actuates the gutter sweep switch to operate motor 110 which starts gutter sweeps 23 into motion down each gutter. The weight of the gutter sweep on vertically movable section 21 of gutter '14 depresses the movable section against the tension of spring mechanism 123, 123. Depression of the gutter permits gutter sweep bumper 99 to push dead wood into the pit without disturbing the live wood which may partially overhang the gutter. When gutter sweep 23 reaches the pit end of the gutter, direction reversal is effected automatically by means of motor reversing switch 116 actuated by trip 117. On its return trip, the rear bumper of gutter sweep 23 serves to push before it any pins which may have possibly gotten behind the sweep, as for example, a pin knocked into the gutter from an adjacent alley. Upon reaching the end of depressed gutter section 21' adjacent immovable gutter 14, the pin will be flipped back onto gutter section 21 and easily removed by another trip by gutter sweep 23.

While the invention has been described in detail in its presently preferred embodiment now in actual use, it will, of course, be understood that such has been done for purposes of illustration only and not by way of limitation, and therefore, only such limitations are to be imposed thereon as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a bowling alley, vertically movable gutter sections at the pit end of the alley, gutter sweeps adapted for reciprocation lengthwise of the gutter sections to engage and direct pins in the gutter sections toward and into the alley pit, said gutter sweeps being normally out of engagement with said vertically movable gutter sections, means for guiding said sweeps into the gutter sections, means responsive to the weight of said sweeps on said guiding means for lowering said gutter sections to a point where the upper margin of said gutter sweeps is below the plane of the alley floor surface when the sweeps are within the movable gutters, and means for reciprocating said gutter sweeps in said gutter sections.

2. Same as claim 1 wherein said gutter sweeps carry sweep rods extending above said gutter sweeps and movable therewith, for engaging and directing into the gutter sections fallen pins projecting there-across and touching the side walls of the alley between the deadline and the pit end of the alley.

3. In combination with a bowling alley, an alley sweep movable across the floor surface of the alley to engage and sweep fallen pins lying in a certain area between the deadline and the foul line end of the alley into the gutters of the alley, the alley sweep including a roller movable in an arc and having a plurality of fingers for engaging and directing fallen pins towards the gutter, a sweep rod pivotally secured to said roller, a pivot rod connected to said sweep rod and alley, means for moving said pivot rod in response to the arcuate movement of said roller for maintaining said sweep rod substantially parallel'to the gutters, and means for directing said roller to a superimposed position with respect to the deadline and moving said sweep rod transversely of the alley.

4. In combination with a pair of adjacent bowling alleys, an alley sweep movable across the floor surface of either alley to engage and sweep fallen pins lying in a certain area between the deadline and the foul line end of either alley into the gutters of the alleys, the alley sweep including a roller movable in an arc for engaging and directing fallen pins towards the gutter, a sweep rod 8 pins lying in a certain area between the deadline and the foul line into. one of the aforementioned gutter sections, means for moving said alley sweep from one gutter side to the other gutter side, gutter sweeps adapted for selective entry into the open end of said vertically movabie gutter sections and movable lengthwise thereof for directing the pins therein to the alley pit, said gutter sections being depressed under the weight of said gutter sweeps to a point where the upper edges of the gutter sweeps are beiow the plane of the alley floor surface, sweep rods carried by and above said gutter sweeps to engage and direct into the gutter sections fallen pins projecting there-across and touching the sidewalls of the alley between the deadline and the pit end of the alley, said sweep rods being so located with respect to the cutter sections that live wood partially overhanging is gutter sections is not disturbed, means for moving tne gutter sweeps into and out of the gutter sections, pin conveyor belts disposed in the base of said gutter sections for carrying dead wood to the pit, deflector belts mounted in the gutter sections adjacent the side walls of the alley, said deflector belts having means engageable with dead wood lying partially on the floor surface across said gutter sections for delivering the pins to the gutter sections, and means connected with said belts for actuating said belts in the direction of the pit.

6. In combination with a bowling alley, an alley sweep movable across the floor surface of the alley to engage and sweep fallen pins lying in a certain area between the deadline and the foul line of the alley into the gutters of the alley, the alley sweep including a roller, means connected to one end of the roller for moving the latter in an are into superimposed position with respect to the deadline of the alley, means on the outer surface of said roller for engaging fallen pins in the path of the roller and directing them to one of the gutters, a sweep rod pivotaily connected to the free terminal of said roller, and means connected to the sweep rod and alley and movable in response to the arcuate movement of said roller for maintaining the sweep rod substantially parallel to the gutters, the sweep rod being moved transversely of the alley upon actuation of the roller to push fallen pins lying in its path into one of the gutters.

7. In combination with a bowling alley, vertically movable gutter sections at the pit end of the ails, gutter sweeps comprising a body section mounted on casters adapted for reciprocation lengthwise of the gutter sections to engage and direct pins in the gutter sections toward and into the alley pit, said gutter sweeps being normally out of engagement with said vertically movable gutter sections, means for guiding said sweeps into the gutter sections, means responsive to the weight of said sweeps on said guiding means for lowering said gutter sections to a point where the upper limit of said body section is below the plane of the alley floor surface when the sweeps are within the movable gutters, and means for reciprocating said gutter sweeps in said gutter sections.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,586,831 Murphy June 1, 1926 1,806,274 Williams May 19, 1931 2,316,183 Patterson Apr. 13, 1943 

